It is good to be here.  

Today we have the NATO-Ukraine Council and we have discussions on different topics.  

First, I am really happy that NATO is also expanding the capability targets, which are necessary for these developments of European defence as well.  

Then second, we do not see any movements on the ceasefire. It is clear that Putin is still playing games, and there is no indication that they want peace. Of course, what we are doing on the European side is to increase the pressure by working on the next package of sanctions. We are hitting a point where the sanctions are really hitting the supply chains, so we will see probably a bigger impact on this in order to pressure also Russia into wanting peace.

And then, of course, we have seen over the last weekend these drone attacks of Ukraine that are rewriting the military history. I mean, they used drones costing thousands to take out planes costing millions. So, I think this is clearly bringing the cost up also for the Russians, again, so that Russians would also want peace. 
 

Q&A.  
Q. When will it be possible to see this next package? Because it was announced several weeks ago, if Putin would not accept ceasefire. He did not do it.  
Yes, yes. Well, it was clear that in Europe things take time. We just finished with the 17th package of sanctions, and immediately after that said we are working on the 18th package. So, we are doing [this] as fast as we can. And I think it is very important to also send a strong signal to put the pressure on Russia. I cannot give you [an] exact deadline, but we are definitely aiming for having it as soon as possible. 

Q. Is it possible before Summit of NATO?  
Well. We are working on that, but I cannot give any promises. 

Q. Are you encouraged by the uptake or discouraged by the uptake of the EU Member States of NATO in using the financing that the European Union has made available to get to their 5% to pay for their capability targets, whatever that turns out to be. And a separate question on messaging. As the negotiations for the Summit Communiqué are underway, we hear that they are having trouble coming up with even a single sentence that would mean Russia as the aggressor, or Russia as the threat to NATO. What does that say? Is that a big disconnect with what most European NATO Allies think? 
Well, first on your first question, the Member States are interested in using the funds that we made available to really boost their defence. We see decisions coming from Spain, for example, that they come to 2% already this year. We see also Luxembourg taking up next steps and important announcements coming from different countries. I think it shows that all the Member States understand that we need to really move and boost the defence of Europe.  
When it comes to NATO negotiations, then I am not part of the negotiations anymore. But definitely, I was just in Asia, and I must say that they have understood, and we are talking about Russian aggression, the defence of international law. If you do not defend the international law, then you actually make aggression legitimate. So, this cannot just work, and the Asian countries understand that. So, I hope that we have the similar approach also in NATO. 

Q. What do you think about this idea to include support to Ukraine in this three and half or one and half percent of increasing spending? 
Well, of course, the numbers are one thing. Capabilities are another thing. I think Ukrainian defence is also our defence. We have taken that always so that the Member States could also help Ukraine more. Now when it comes to the calculation whether it is in the 5% or not in the 5% then it is, of course, up to NATO to decide. But I think it is important that we do not blur the picture, [so] that it goes to defence and not to the other projects that are not related to it. 

Q. Are you concerned by reports that Putin says he will retaliate against operations, by the way? 
Well, it Is clear that they have had the drone attacks and attacks on civilians all the time, so they have not changed their behaviour before. And it is clear that they are going to want to impose bigger costs on Ukraine, [as they are] always attacking civilians. Let me remind you that it is against the international humanitarian law to attack civilians or civilian infrastructure, and Russia is doing that all the time. Our response should not be to take a step back. Our response should be to put more pressure on Russia so that they would also want peace.  

Good, thank you.  

Link to the video: https://www.natomultimedia.tv/app/asset/719568